Books For Wounded Healers
(B.F.W.H.)
2021 - Present
Books for Wounded Healers (B.F.W.H) is a contemporary social practice project based in Kjipuktuk / “Halifax, CA” that consists of handmade books constructed for donation to various mental health outreach programs, community initiatives, non-profit organizations, 2SLGTBQIA+, minorities, and marginalized communities. The driving force behind this research is to investigate how art and education can come together in providing aid for mental health and addiction recovery through qualitative and community-based participatory action methodology; conducted through a decolonial framework. This project is strongly motivated by care activism, harm reduction, suicide prevention, social justice, and community engagement.
“We want our community to feel loved, seen, valid and valued - and we see the Books for Wounded Healers program as a way to accomplish this goal”
B.F.W.H. Journals
Soft fabric covered journals that are made from up-cycled fabrics, donated textiles, scraps and old clothes
This makes each book one-of-a-kind
Handicraft aesthetic: made with love, but not with perfection!
Each book roughly measures to 6 ½ by 12 ½ inches and contains 10 pages folded in half, which makes 36 usable sides
Made with blank sketchbook paper so it is versatile and accommodates art making, writing, and mixed media
The “text-blocks” (pages) are replaceable, so those who receive a journal can re-use the cover and replace the text-blocks once they are filled.
Research
Topics: Mental health recovery care, addiction recovery care, disability justice, belonging, accessibility, social justice, social practice, in-patient care, outreach, community art, community art education, care activism, suicide prevention, harm reduction, art-making, writing, self-expression
Theories: Social justice theory, art education theory, critical social theory, disability justice, harm reduction
Paradigm: Transformative, arts-based embodiment, community based participatory action research
Praxis/Methodology: *Qualitative, *Mixed Methods, *Arts-based
Community art education, social collaboration and engagement, kinship, participatory art, meaning-making through B.F.W.H journals, community partnerships, community engaged research and collective learning
Methods: *B.F.W.H journals
*Photovoice, *community art making sessions, *workshops, interviews, auto-ethnographic writing, conferences
Project Highlights
In October of 2021, Nova Scotia Project Interest Research Group (NSPIRG) and Books for Wounded Healers began to work together! This connection formed after Mads did a call-out on social media for fabric donations for the project. One of the first people to respond to the call, Clark MacIntosh (NSPIRG Finance and Resource Centre Coordinator), generously offered fabric scraps from his partner’s business “Vivacious Vixen Apparel”. After connecting, Clark told Mads about an opportunity to apply for a material grant through NSPIRG, which has resulted in a strong on-going partnership.
In April of 2022, NSPIRG and B.F.W.H. received a Community Grant from the Tegan and Sara Foundation! During the months of June-August, this community grant allowed us to:
Create and distribute 251 B.F.W.H. journals across Mi’kma’ki / “Nova Scotia”
Team up with 15+ partner organizations and student groups to ensure our journals found their way to Queer Nova Scotians across the province
We partnered with a wide variety of organizations including local Queer-owned businesses, homeless shelters, and organizations that work inside prisons, youth groups, summer camps, university campus groups and more
In June we hosted our first volunteer session that was held to prepare materials and teach folks about the processes involved in crafting the journals
Shared tutorials about the journal making process with a local art teacher at John Martin Jr High, where students are able to make their own B.F.W.H journals
The team was honoured to make a special set of journals for one of the pediatric in-patient units at our local children’s hospital
We were able to add a personal touch; the B.F.W.H. logo, in vinyl, to each book. This wouldn’t have been possible without the kindness of a community member who lended us the use of their digital cutter
Project Partners
